Further proof that CBS’ in-the-works Sherlock Holmes reboot will take the iconic franchise in a radical new direction: The network has cast Lucy Liu as Watson!
TVLine has learned that Liu has been tapped to play Watson toJonny Lee Miller‘s Sherlock in Elementary, the network’s modern-day take on the famed detective saga.
Another key change: Sherlock and Watson now live in New York City.
What I actually like this decision though.
I suppose this mean’s they’re making Holmes/Watson canon then?
Joking aside, I really like that they’re interpreting the canon in a new way, particularly in a way that allows for representation of WOC. Far too many reboots of different movies/books/shows have replicated the white/male centric nature of the source material too well.
Commenter going by “Watson”: “THIS IS NOT OKAY.
Watson is a man, not a woman and while renovating the series it’s fine (even tho LOL the british sherlock is the best and will always be the best) changing Watson’s character like this is just plain ridiculous.
Epic Failure.”
My response: “Oh, “Watson.” We’ve had a Russian Holmes, a modernized Holmes, a dinosaur-fighting Holmes, a friggin’ MOUSE Holmes, and your problem is with Lucy Liu as Watson?
I’m pleased that CBS is bringing a woman of color into such an iconic role, especially considering how very racist the original stories were. Brava, CBS.”
Okay, that’s it, I’m watching the living bejesus out of “Elementary”.
BECAUSE THE ONLY WAY WE COULD MAKE SHERLOCK AND WATSON A COUPLE IS IF THEY’RE A STRAIGHT COUPLE, RIGHT
Yeah, being able to get rid of the gay subtext and have Holmes and Watson as a romantic couple almost certainly played into the decision to cast a woman, and that sucks. (Well, I actually think the wink-wink nudge-nudge subtext of the current incarnations is problematic, BUT I don’t think the solution to that is to make them a het couple, but rather to make it TEXT rather than subtext.) The fact that it will be a woman in the role of genius-handler also sucks.
But the fact that they cast a woman of color as such an iconic character? Is fucking AMAZING and should be celebrated.
Travis, you’ve summed up my feelings about this brilliantly! *applauds*
Yep what Travis said exactly. I will now watch at least two or three episodes in case they don’t suck!
